Chapter 20: Beginning of end
Summary: My name is Kurosaki Karin. 17 months and some after my brother lost his powers I… died. After training so hard in almost two years to become stronger and protect my family back in Karakura, I needed to leave them after a freaking car accident. But I'm not worried. My life here in Soul Society just began. [HitsuxKarin]. Maybe I'll write stories for another partners, too.
Disclaimer: I don't own Tite Kubo's Bleach, and its characters. I just borrow some scenes on the manga and twist it into something that will blend with my story.
We're on the "The Thousand Year Blood War".
Previously on Hitsugaya Karin…
The monitor of Uruhara's things opened and connected to Soul Society. "Uruhara reporting."
"It's Uruhara-taicho. What did you fin out?" One of the members of Division Twelve asked.
The screen blurred in Uruhara's monitor for a moment, and then it settled. "We were being hold back here in Hueco Mundo so that Ichigo can't come and help Soul Society. They will attack tomorrow or the day after that. Tell the…"
"Uruhara-taicho! Uruhara-taicho! We can't connect anymore! Tell Kurotsuchi-taicho about this. Tell the whole Seireitei!"
"I'm sorry, Uruhara-san, but you can't go reporting our plans to your precious Soul Society." A man said as he kicked Uruhara's communication device. He then turned to one of the soldiers. "You, report this to His Majesty. Tell him that our plan is out, and they should attack Seireitei as soon as possible. We will hold Kurosaki Ichigo from here."
"Kurotsuchi-taicho… a report from ex-captain Uruhara. The enemy will move today or tomorrow. We're not sure about the exact time but base on the report we need to be careful."
Mayuri nodded from his seat. "Send Hell Butterflies to all the Captains. Get ready and watch for any disruption in the dimension. Tomorrow is the last day of the exam for the graduates, all the captains will be there…Be alert!"
The shinigami bowed and run out of the room to deliver the message.
"Are you ready for tomorrow, nee-sama?" Rukia asked. It's nighttime and the two are on Rukia's bedroom. Nanami is brushing Rukia's hair.
"I am. I'm nervous but I think I'll be okay. I'm practicing with Karin-chan." Nanami answered.
"I never had the chance to take the examinations, nee-sama. Byakuya-nii-sama pulled me out of the Academy, and before I knew it, I'm already part of Division Thirteen. I wonder about the feeling."
Nanami stopped brushing Rukia's short hair. "Well, we can't go back in time but everything went perfectly, right? You're now a vice captain." The sliding door suddenly opened and the two alertly picked up their swords, in the case of Nanami, her knife disguised as a barrette. Karin went in and closed the door. "Karin! What are you doing here?"
"We received a message. Rukia-fukutaicho, I don't know if you knew but according to the Twelfth Division, Wandenreich will attack at anytime soon. Tomorrow is the latest."
"What! But the exams…" Nanami panicked. "That's… are they sure, Karin-chan?" Karin nodded.
"I received the news a while ago. I'm not sure what will happen tomorrow that's why… I want to spend time with my sister. I'm a fukutaicho… I won't know what will happen to me…" Rukia said.
Nanami took a moment to realize what Rukia was trying to say. "NO! Nothing will happen to you!"
"She's right, nothing will happen to you. My brother won't let it." Karin said. "Anyway, I came here to warn Nanami. If the enemies will attack, Ono might make her move, too. I promised Kuchiki-taicho to look after her so I will be in the backstage tomorrow with you, and not in the audience."
Nanami's not weak but looking at the two girls in front of her and imagining something bad happen to them made her cry, and she realized how scared she is. Not for her life, but for those she loves the most. "I'm scared." "She hugged her little sister and best friend. Please be careful tomorrow."
Zanjutsu Exams. Day 4
Because the war might start at any moment, the vice-captains were left in their respective divisions and the captains went to the arena. The soutaicho didn't attend the examination because he doesn't have Sasakibe-fukutaicho to lead the First Division. The atmosphere is tense. Shinigami are around the Soul Society and patrolling the area. The Arena are almost empty except for the Division captains, Onmitsukido, Kido 'corps, and the Clans. Other family members and friends who were brave enough to attend even though there are danger impending.
Announcer-san announced that the Zanjutsu Exams are starting. His mood is not the jolly one he always used to show that he is happy announcing. Even he is feeling tense. "L-let's start the exam, minna!"
Ichigo and the others were forced to run away from the man. "We've been doing this since last night! Let me kill him so I can go to Soul Society already! Why are we even running?"
"Because you sensed Uryu-kun's reishi, Kurosaki-kun, and you said that you want to ask him why he is here, and that the man chasing us is not as important as Uryu-kun." Orihime answered.
"Ah, you're right! How the hell did he come in here?" Ichigo stopped. "Oh, well. He can do anything he wants. I'm going to kill this guy first. Go take cover."
"I caught up to you, Kurosaki Ichigo!" Quilge Opie shouted. "You won't be able to come out of Hueco Mundo now that you're in my hands." He dodged when a Getsuge Tensho came his way.
"Stop talking, Opium!" Ichigo shouted.
"It's Opie, not Opium!" He attacked Ichigo. Ichigo blocked. The others are also fighting of some of Opie's soldiers. Uruhara hide in one of the rocks and began to repair his communicator.
Quilge used his Quincy Cross to create his Heilig Pfeil, and he fired arrows at Ichigo. Ichigo was able to direct one of the arrows back to Quilge, and destroy the arrows. "How did he do this!?"
"Your arrows are much weaker than Ishida Uryu's." Ichigo answered.
He glared at Ichigo. "Biskiel." A substantial amount of reiatsu is released around Quilge. A towering column of energy that ends in a large Quincy Cross shattered and Quilge emerges in the Vollstandig form. Quilge gains an angelic wings, boots, gauntlets on both wirst, a sword coming out of his right hand, a large holster across his chest, and a halo shaped like the Wandenreich symbol.
With his new form, he appeared behind Ichigo and slashed him from behind. "You won't kill me in this form, Kurosaki Ichigo. You'll die here, all of you, and Soul Society will fall into crumbles."
Ichigo swung his sword. "I won't let that happen! Bankai!"
Quilge was expecting this and he brought out his medallion and activated it. "Your Bankai is mine now!"
Ichigo appeared in front of Quilge. "What do you mean yours?"
Ichigo is in his Bankai form with the marks of his Fullbring. "H-how! What!" Quilge was confused.
Ichigo smirked. "Getsuga Tensho!" Quilge's left wing was slashed off.
"Ichigo! Get out of the way!" Uruhara shouted. He fired an energy blast that seriously wounded Quilge.
"F*ck, Uruhara-san. You nearly killed me!" Ichigo shouted.
"I warned you!" Uruhara shouted back. "Now go to Soul Society!"
Soul Society. Arena.
"Please step up, Kobayashi Nanami and Abe Shin. Six years ago, these two sparred for their First Semester examinations in Zanjutsu, too, and Nanami-san won by ending it with her practice sword in Abe-san's neck! We will see their growth in the past six years." The audiences are excited. The tense atmosphere and alertness is still there, but for now, watching the two spars is more important for them.
"We're using your own swords this time, Abe-san, Nanami-san. Are the two of you ready?"
Nanami opened her eyes and nodded. Her nervousness is now masked with calmness. Her fear is covered with determination. Shin smirked. He clutched the handle of his sword tightly, ready to draw when the signal come. He nodded.
"Okay. The duel is on." Announcer-san quickly went out of the way.
At an instant, Shin disappeared from his position, his sword's blade is pointing at Nanami's neck. Nanami gracefully bend over and did a back flip, her long hair tied in a ponytail made a swish sound as it follow her body. The knife from her barrette was in her hand in a matter of second, and was blocking Shin's next attack in no time. But you can only do little from fending of a sword with a knife.
She closed her eyes and she leaked out some of her reiatsu. Shin waited and watched, anticipating her next move. "Utau, Umi no Sairen." Shin's eyes bulge. He didn't think that Nanami would really use it. He watched, as well as the others, as Nanami's knife transformed into a long sword. The whole sword is blue, except for the guard that is green. A blue ribbon was connected to a series of charms from the guard.
"So, it's like that huh." Shin grinned. He raised his sword. "Shimetsukeru, Shiroi Hebigami." Shin's shikai form is a trident. The white snake twined on the trident's staff contrasted the solid black trident with gold markings.
Nanami glared at Shin. She flash stepped and swung her sword. It was blocked by Shin's trident. Shin thrust forward, but Nanami hit the top of the trident, making it change course and pierce the ground instead. The two jumped back and panted. And then, Nanami rushed forward with her sword. It was caught between Shin's trident's blade, and Shin forced it out of Nanami's hand. Umi no Sairen landed five yards away from the two, and Shin pointed his trident at Nanami. The whole arena was silent.
"Uh… I think, we now know who…" Announcer-san started.
"Don't call it yet." Karin said behind Announcer-san. "She's not done." Announcer-san looked at Karin's cold face and frown, and he nodded.
Nanami was muttering something and Shin narrowed his eyes. The trident is still pointed at Nanami's neck. "-Bakudo #81 Danku." An energy barrier came appeared but instead of surrounding Nanami, it encases all the other people in the arena.
"Nanami, what are you...?" Shin was confused. "Why?"
"The Third Song: Song of Sorrow." Nanami called. The spectators watched as Nanami's sword disappeared. They were alarmed when the sky suddenly goes dark, and large drops of rain pour down.
Shin was confused and he let his guard down. Nanami stepped back and watched as the rain pierced through Shin. Shin held his head. He can hear someone crying, crying, and crying.
It felt like forever but under two minutes, the rain stopped and the barrier disappeared. The confused people looked in the arena. They saw Nanami on the ground and Shin standing in the middle.
"Nanami!" Karin shouted. The medics run and assist in giving Nanami first aid. Shin is still standing, confused.
Announcer-san went in the middle. "That was a beautiful sparring but today it's Abe-kun's win." Shin's knees suddenly gave out. Blood started to sipped out of his skin. "Wh-what happened?"
Hanataro rushed to the bloody student. He started to heal Shin's wounds. "Nothing's wrong with Kobayashi-san. She doesn't even have any scratch. But Abe-kun…"
The present captains are still amazed and confused on what happened. The people in the Divisions became tense when they saw the darkness above the arena, and was confused when it went out after a few minutes. The Division Twelve were looking for any sign of enemies but there were none, and according to the weather report, the initial recording didn't change.
Byakuya stands up and walked down the bleachers. He appeared by the unconscious Nanami's side in a second.
"Nanami's reiatsu dropped down." Karin told the announcer and Hanataro. She took the microphone from Announcer-san. "You may be wondering why you were suddenly enclosed in a barrier a while ago. It was because Umi no Sairen's third song can damage anyone in the vicinity. The Shikai's tears, in this case the rain, can kill you if that's what Nanami wants. Other than the wounds, the third song also tortures you with the crying Umi no Sairen makes. She doesn't want anyone to get hurt so she put on a barrier first, and then she concentrated on not killing Shin and just wounding him. I'm Nanami's sparring partner and I know all of her attacks. The Third Song can drain most of Nanami's reiatsu. Also, when she first used it on me, I nearly died. From that day on, she decided not to use it. I convinced her that it would be a very useful move if she practice using and controlling it. And you saw how deadly it is with your own eyes." Karin said indicating on what happened to Shin.
Karin gave Announcer-san the microphone. She went to the Medic Tent where Nanami and Shin were resting. Byakuya looked up.
"Third-seat Kurosaki-san." Byakuya offered the seat next to him, and he went back on watching his wife. "All of the seated officers should be in the Division office and barracks, what are you doing here?"
"Kuchiki-taicho, I promised you that I would be looking after my best friend. I received the message that the war is anytime today."
"… Thank you." Byakuya got up from his seat. "Then please, look after them. I need to so back on my seat." He trudged towards the entrance. Karin nodded. The next students are starting.
Nanami's head moved and she slowly opened her eyes. "Karin-chan, I didn't kill him, did I?"
Karin stood up from her chair. She held Nanami's hand. "You're practices paid off, Nanami. Shin's not dead. If you want to make sure, his bed is beside yours."
Nanami turned around and saw a peaceful sleeping Shin. Nanami smiled, and closed her eyes.
"Be ready for the start of our invasion. Quilge Opie will stall the humans." Haschwalth said. Sternritters, lead your troops. The Soul Society will crumble today!"
The soldiers shouted. "Hail, Wandenreich! Hail, the Sternritters! Hail, Yhwach-sama!"
Uryu stands near the throne of Yhawach. His face is completely masked, but inside, he is frowning. In contrast, Yhwach is smiling. A Sternritter came out of nowhere, he appeared like Yhwach. Uryu was surprised, especially because the two Yhwach have the same grin on their faces. The Yhwach on the throne laughed, and Jugram gave the signal.
A/N: To all of those who read my answers to comments, thank you very much. To MomoPeachFlower and Lavendor Queen, I'm so sorry for distressing you and not clearing it up as soon as possible. TOSHIRO IS NOT GOING TO DIE. It was supposed to be "Ichigo will talk to Toshiro and threatens him if he hurt her sister." I hope I cleared that up.
Also, in this chapter, the part where it says "ZANJUTSU EXAM. DAY 4" and the other parts after that are happening at the same time, or nearly the same time, just in different places.
Thank you to all of these people:
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KumiTiny- This is for you. The next chapter will be the whole war/invasion. I wish to update more and more, too.
Lavendor Queen- Thank you for noticing.
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MomoPeachFlower- Thank you for reading all I typed. I will not kill Unohana! She's Kenpachi's girl and Yachiru's mama. Well, in my fantasies. LOL. But Yamamoto will die and Kyoraku will become the soutaicho. The Eight Division will be reserved for Ichigo.
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Guest- Thank you very much for your review. I'll try to give them more appearance before the story ends, which is very far in the future.
Again, thank you very much for reading. I ask you to please read everything I wrote, even answer to comments because what you want to ask might have been answered before.
Love much, Eurielle 2
P.S, You might wonder how Karin can freely come inside the house. It's because she's Nanami's friend. And I'm sorry for the OOC-ness on that part. I'm also sorry because there are no HitsuKarin parts. Please be patient a little more. Thank you very much.
P.P.S. The new story cover is Umi no Sairen's unreleased form and shikai. I fear that I didn't describe the unreleased form and just put on "barrette". Barrettes are hair clips, and Nanami's hair is long again and was on a ponytail. Above the ponytail rest the barrette which is the knife's scabbard. So Nanami have a "hidden weapon style" for a weapon, but its really long when in its shikai form.